Church's Appreciation Thread

[Gerry]

Not for all weather but a most comfortable pair of shoes, Church Sahara.

 

[BrooksLauren77]

So I'm browsing the Herring shoes website and it turns out Church has a new line of shoes. Named Office; everything is calf leather and fully leather lined. Around $550. Includes 3 oxfords, a derby, a monk, and Chelsea boots.

 

[gr789]

So I'm browsing the Herring shoes website and it turns out Church has a new line of shoes. Named Office; everything is calf leather and fully leather lined. Around $550. Includes 3 oxfords, a derby, a monk, and Chelsea boots.

Thanks, that was interesting. Looks like Church's is looking to market into that Alden/CJ mainline price point. I handled a pair of Grafton's calf recently and the MSRP was around $750. I did not know (until I saw the Herring shoes website) that the City line had some sort of polishing agent imbued into it! That would lend itself to some criticism from SFers.

Not for all weather but a most comfortable pair of shoes, Church Sahara.

Great boots Gerry! A pair from Church's Madison Ave. store in NY. Very comfy as the suede was unlined. It had some interesting burnishing on the toes and heel quarters (it seemed like burnishing on shoes was everywhere at that time).

 

[nickjk1988]

Very new to this forum, been reading a long time. But needed to sign up before I make a purchase.

Looking at buying a pair of Church Fosbury in size 10. But in the images they have a darker sole and the toes seem shiny?

Is this normal, I believe they are burnished suede. But can't be sure of what the dark area is before my purchase. Or any similar purchase going forward if these fall through.

Hopefully someone can help. And hopefully this is the right place.

Nick

 

[Murlsquirl]

Welcome to the forum, nick. I moved your post over here so you can get the help you need. These guys know Church's shoes and should be able to chime in. Best of luck!

 

[gr789]



Very new to this forum, been reading a long time. But needed to sign up before I make a purchase. Looking at buying a pair of Church Fosbury in size 10. But in the images they have a darker sole and the toes seem shiny? Is this normal, I believe they are burnished suede. But can't be sure of what the dark area is before my purchase. Or any similar purchase going forward if these fall through. Hopefully someone can help. And hopefully this is the right place. Nick

Welcome Nick! That burnished suede is simar to the upper that I had posted on those Saharas above. It's some sort of polish or paste applied to the suede. As to the soles, I don't own any Church's with it but have seen them and I believe that they are just a Church's oil soaked variant to increase flexibility and durability??? I am by no means a Church's shoes expert, just an enthusiastic consumer...

 

[gr789]

An example of what probably makes post-Prada Church's so polarizing, but I like my Elmsteads. Someone told me that these reminded him of expensive Doc Marten's (again, not helping Church's here on SF!)

 

[gr789]

Grafton, that 173 last, and dainite soles.

 

[gr789]

Another of my amusing Church's. Pull-up leather. Crazy soles.

 

[zippyh]



Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Another of my amusing Church's. Pull-up leather. Crazy soles.

I remember seeing something very similar to those sold with the Prada label.

 

[gr789]

I remember seeing something very similar to those sold with the Prada label.

LOL, yeah these particular of my Church's are very much outside of the old traditions. Goodyear welted, solid construction, big discount attracted me to them. They are decidedly casual. I always envisioned re-soling these more conservatively (dainite or something) after some use.

 

[typericey]

Sharing with you my newly purchased Church's Dubai in Nevada. They are Custom Grade and fully leather lined. I chose this color and style because I feel they are flexible: they are quite dressy, yet they can also be worn with raw denim. Can't seem to find this model in Church's website but they seem to be closest to the Consul Nevada.

This is my first "real" pair of shoes coming from a world of Cole Haan Lunargrands and a few designer loafers (Ferragamo, etc.). So yeah, not shoe savvy at all, but I consider this pair as my gateway drug. Hoping to get Alden shells as my next purchase and then maybe try out other Northampton brands.










Wearing them to work for the first time today so I also don't have an idea of "how" they are. A couple of maiden voyage pics below. Note: photos above are closer to its actual color than the crappy phone pics below.




To be honest, a bit disheartened about Church's getting no love in SF, but I try dismiss them and just enjoy my shoes. Hope to post first impressions here after a few wears and prolly eventually have my own (non-expert) opinion on the brand.

 

[Nikola]

Church's still got it!

As I wrote before, their Ryder III Chukka boot is the most comfortable shoe I own. Suede is amazing too!

Trouble is the aura this brand developed after the Prada took over. But I think their classics like Ryder or Consul will still find it's way to buyers, though it's hard to compete with the brand like Crockett Jones that is offering products at the same price level these days.

 

[gr789]

Really nice looking shoes typericey - I still enjoy my Church's even though I have many of the Styleforum darlings (C&J, Vass, Alden, Trickers, Lobb, G&G, etc.).

Let us know how they break in!

 

[TheFluffer]

The Dubais look gorgeous!